Banana protector



March 1, 1932.

A. PAOLI BANANA PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 18, 1929 INAIENTOR A 404/ BY 774W r.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITEDifST ATE-S' PATENT OFFICE ARTHURVPAOLI, or rnonwoon, MICHIGAN BANANA rnomnc'ron Application filed February 18,1929. Serial No. 340,932.

vide a device of the type described which has novel means whereby the casings may be moved away from the bunch of bananas.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described which has novel means for guiding the casings toward and into engagement with each other for enclosing the bunch of bananas.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described in which a means is provided for heating the interior of the casings to prevent freezing of the bananas.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

my device,

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of Figure 2 is a section along the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a section Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I provide a rotating hook member 1 which may be secured to any suitable support such as a ceiling 2. A supporting member is composed of a rod 3, which is slidably disposed in a along the line 33 of sleeve 4 having a plurality of openings 5 therein. The upper end of the rod 3 is provided with an eyelet 5 which is arranged to receive the hook member 1. An opening 6 is provided in the rod 3 for receiving a pin 7 that is arranged to extend through anyof the openings 5 in the sleeve 4. The lower end of the sleeve 4 is provided with a supporting hook 8 for receiving abunch of bananas, indicated at 9.

An inner or upper casing 10 is carried by a weight member 11 which is slidably mounted'upon'the sleeve 4. The weight member 11 is provided with a collar portion 12 which extends through the inner casing 10 and is provided with eyelets 13. p

A lower or outer casing 14 is provided and arranged to receive the inner casing 10. A reinforcing strip 15 is disposed around the casing- 14 at the upper edge thereof. Gripping members 16 are carried by the reinforcing strip 15; Upwardly projecting'arms 17 {are carried by or integral with the reinforc ing strip 15. A reinforcing band 18 is disposed around the inner casing 10 and is provided with guide members 19 which are arranged to receive the arms 17. A set of pulleys'QO are rotatably carried by brackets 21 which'are rigidly secured to the sleeve 4 at any desired" position, Cables22 extend over the pulleys 20 and have their outer ends se cured to the arms 17 while their are secured to the eyelets 13. A socket 23 is carried by the inner casing 10 and is in electrical connection with a source heating unit or electric light 25 is disposed 'inthe socket 23'.

inner ends From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. When the two casings are brought together, the bunch of bananas is completely i'nclosed. When the surrounding temperature is low, the heating unit 25 may be illuminated so as to heat the interior of the two casings.

The weight member 11 counterbalances the weight of the outer casing. 14 and tends to holdthe casings 10 and 14 at any placed positon. The operator may move the casings 10 and 14 away from the-bunch of bananas by pulling downwardly upon the gripping members 16 which are carried by the outer casing 14. This movement of the outer casing will impart an upward movement toltheinner casing due to the cable connection between the two 'casngs. The pin 7 serves two purposes, namelyi the holding of the rod 3 and the sleeve 4 together, and the serving-as a stop for the upper casing; When the casings are in this position they are positioned away from the bunch of bananas so as to permit free access to the bananas. During this movement of the casings away from each other, the arms 17 will move through the guides 19 so as to hold the casing in general alignment with each other. 7

In closing the casings the operator raises the lower casing by the gripping members v16 until the lower end of the upper casingisreceived in the lower casing. The arms 17 ,as they slide through the guides 19, 'guidethe casings 10' and 14 into their interlocking positions. The band 18, upon the upper casing 10, serves as a stop member forlimiting the movement of the two casings toward each other. I a

. The hook member 1 permits-the device to be swung about its pivot as might be desired when picking bananas from the bunch. The

casing 10 may be formed of any suitable ma- .the bananas, but also as a means of-displaying the bananas.

I claim: 7 1. In a device of the type described, the combination of a depending supporting memher and a casing comprising a pair of-casing portions disposed in telescoping relationship,

one of said casing portions being .slidably mounted. on the supporting member.

.2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a depending supporting member, a casing comprising a pair of casing portions disposed in telescoping relationship, one

of said casingportions being slidably mountedonthe supporting member, said supporting member being provided witha hook portion extending within the casing, and tie means carried by said supporting member and connected with the casing portions whereby said casing portions may be moved in opposite directions when the casing portions are actuated. V

3. In a deviceof the type desc'ibed, the combination of a supporting member, a depending supportingmember adjustably connected therewith, a-casing comprising a pair of casing portions disposed in telescoping relationship, one of said casing portions being slidably mounted on the supporting member, said supporting member being provided with a hook portion extending within the casing, and he means carried by said supporting member and connected with said casing port ons whereby said casing portions may be movedin opposite directions when the casing portionsare actuated.

4. In a device of the type described, the combination of a supporting member, a depending supporting member adjustably con.-

.February,A.13.21929.

said casing portionsmay be moved in opposite directions when the casing portions are actuated.

Signed at Ironwood, in the county of Gogebic" and State ofMichigan this 11th day of ARTHUR PAOLI. 

